South Korea's former president was found guilty of inciting rebellion following the declaration of a state of emergency at the end of 2024. The prosecution had sought the death penalty for him.
According to Yonhap news, the court sentenced Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment on charges of violating the constitutional order and organizing a rebellion. He had served as president since May 2022.
After a short-term state of emergency was declared in December 2024, he was impeached by South Korea's National Assembly. The impeachment was confirmed in April 2025, and he was removed from office. He was subsequently summoned for questioning several times and was ultimately arrested.
Previously, in January 2026, the former president had been sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of abuse of power and resisting arrest.
Prosecutors had requested the death penalty for him on the rebellion charge, but the court imposed life imprisonment as the most severe punishment.
